Automatic storage system for non-free flowing products



United States Patent [72] Inventor Vaughn Gregor 5524 Green Oak St.,Hollywood, Calif. 90028 [21] AppLNo. 774,418 [22] Filed Nov. 8,1968 [45]Patented Dec.29, 1970 [54] AUTOMATIC STORAGE SYSTEM FOR NON-FREE FLOWINGPRODUCTS 18 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 198/106, 198/147 [51] lnt.C1. ..B65g37/00 [50] FieldofSearchl98/48,44, 43,53, 57, 145, 147,45, 47, 75, 106; 2l4/l7.62, 17.6

{56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 725,573 4/1903 LeGrand198/146 1,501,622 7/1924 Ruau 214/l7.(62) 2,638,248 5/1953 Alvord..214/l7.(62) 2,890,803 6/1959 Vanier". 198/57 3,319,808 5/1967 Sackett214/l7.(62)

Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Attorney-Berman, Davidson andBerman ABSTRACT: An automatic storage system for nonfree flowingproducts, such as cookies, cereals, bread stuffing, noodles, and similarproducts of irregular shape, for accepting the products at varying ratesand for discharging the products, on demand. The apparatus includes alarge horizontally extending storage chamber provided with a conveyorbelt. The conveyor belt discharges the product at one end of the storagechamber into a transverse end chute feeding packaging machines. Thestorage chamber is supplied by a bucket con veyor arrangedlongitudinally at one side above the storage chamber, the bucketconveyor discharging into a transverse overhead feed chute reciprocatinglongitudinally over the storage chamber. A height sensor in the storagechamber controls the operation of the overhead chute. A photoelectricsensing system is provided in the transverse end chute controlling theconveyor belt in the storage chamber so as to prevent overloading thetransverse end chute. The transverse overhead feed chute and thetransverse end chute are respectively provided with vibrators tomaintain the material therein in a fluent condition.

PATENTED DEC29 1970 SHEET 2 OF 6 5 MW 3 5 Z W Mm 6 /,w

Yd B AUTOMATIC STORAGE SYSTEM F011 NON FREE FLOWING PRODUCTS at varyingrates, and for discharging the products on'demand,

the apparatus being relatively simple in construction, being reliable inoperation, and being relativelycompact in size so as to occupy arelatively small amount of floor space.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved automaticstorage system that accepts products at varying rates and dischargesproducts on demand, the apparatus being relatively inexpensive tofabricate, beingdurable in construc tion, being easy to maintain inaclean condition, and requiring a minimum amount of human supervision.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedautomatic storage or accumulation system for various materials, such asfood products of irregular shape which are processed at'varying ratesand which must be stored between the processing and packaging thereof,the apparatus being substantially fully automatic, providing safehandling of the material accepted thereby and delivered therefrom, andproviding a smooth flow of material therefrom to the associated.packaging machines employed.

A still further object of, the invention is to provide an improvedautomatic storage system for conveying products, such as cookies,cereals, bread stuffing, noodles, or other objects of irregular shapeand for feeding the material to associated packaging machines, theapparatusbeing arranged so that the material is fed therefrom asrequired and without overloading the packaging machines receiving thesame, and the apparatus operating in a manner such that the material iscirculated through the system in a controlled manner and without thepossibility of substantial quantities thereof being trapped therein andbypassed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedautomatic storage andaccumulation system for nonfree flowing products,the system providing smooth and efficient handling of the products withminimum breakage or damage thereto and at relatively low handling costs,as well as simplifying scheduling and supervision, and facilitatingimproved quality control.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an automatic accumulation and storageapparatus according to the present invention, shown partly broken away;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view takensubstantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal plan view takensubstantially on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view takensubstantially on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view takensubstantially on the line 7--' of FIG. 6;

in accordance with the present invention. The main general components ofthe system 11 comprise a longitudinally and horizontally extendingelevated bucket conveyor 12 which receives the material to beaccumulated from a delivery chute 13 which may be located anywhere alongthe bucket conveyor 12, and is illustrated by way of example as beinglocated adjacent the left end of the conveyor 12, as shown in FIG. 1.The

bucket conveyor 12 is arranged in a manner to be' presently described indetail to deliver material to a reciprocating transversely extendingfeed chute assembly generally designated at 14 which reciprocateslongitudinally over the main storage compartment of the system,designated generally at 15. The bottom wall of the main storage chamber15 comprises a longitudinally extending belt conveyor 16 whichdischarges, (in

demand, in a manner presently to be described, into a transverse endchute assembly, designated generally at 17, which feeds the products topackaging machines, not shown. 7

As will be presently explained, appropriate parts of the system 11 areprovided with vibrator means to maintain the products contained thereinin a fluent condition and to facilitate the movement of the productstherethrough. Also, various sensing devices are provided at appropriatelocations in'the system to maintain a suitable amount of material in themain storage chamber 15 and to move material therefrom to the outputdelivery chute. 17 as required. In general, the system 11 transfersmaterial supplied to the bucket conveyor assembly 12 to the transverselongitudinally reciprocating overhead feed chute assembly 14 whichtravels longitudinally back and forth over the mainstorage compartment15 and allows material to flow by gravity into the storage compartmentin a manner to evenly distribute the material in the storagecompartment. The belt conveyor 16 feeds the material to the transverseoutput delivery chute 17 as required, namely, in accordance with thepresence orabsence'of material in the chute, as will be presentlyexplained, the capacity of the storage compartment 15 being sufficientto ensure that the material will be delivered to the output chute 17, asrequired by the demanddeveloped by the packaging machines which aresupplied by said output chute 17.

The bucket conveyor assembly 12 is of conventional construction, per se,and is of the endless-loop type, comprising successive transverselyarranged, transversely pivoted buckets 18 which are biased by gravity sothat the buckets tend to assume horizontal positions in the upper run ofthe buckets, as shown in FIG. 7, each bucket being provided'with arearwardly projecting-lip, or flange 19 which overlies the forwardmargin of the rearwardly adjacent bucket in a normal horizontal positionof the buckets. Each bucket is provided with a depending end lug 20which cooperates with ramp means, presently to be described, to tilt theassociated bucket to a discharged position as the bucket passes over theramp means, for example, as the bucket travels to the left, as viewed inFIG. 7, the bucket returning to its original upwardly facing positionafter it passes over and leaves the ramp means. As will be presentlyexplained, the ramp means is carried by the reciprocating transverselyextending distributing chute assembly 14 and comprises a camming track21 having an upwardly convex leading portion 22 which is of generallyarcuate shape and which merges with a relatively linear downwardly andrearwardly inclined release portion 23 which cooperates 'with the lugs20 to gradually allow the buckets to resume their normal upwardly facingpositions as they passover the camming track member 21. The bucketstravel at a rate sufficiently rapid as to substantially exceed the rateof longitudinal movement of the transversely extending distributingchute assembly 14 so as to provide the above-described automatic tilting of the buckets as they pass over the distributing assembly 14. Thus,the bucket conveyor assembly 12 includes a drive motor 24 which isdriving'ly coupled by suitable sprocket chain means 25 to the drivingroller of the bucket conveyor, shown at the right end thereof in FIG. 1.

As will be presently explained, the movement of the transverselyextending distributing chute assembly 14 is controlled by theaccumulation of the product in the storage compartmerit in a manner toprovide even distribution of the product in the compartment. Thus, thedrive motor for the traveling distributing chute assembly 14 is shown at32, and

the energizing circuit for said drive motor includes a microswitch 26mounted on the lower end of vertical bar 27 which is adjustably securedto a longitudinally bar member 28 projecting from the frame of thedistributing chute assembly 14, as shown in FIG. 4. The vertical bar 27is adjustably mounted on bracket means 33 which can be adjustedlongitudinally along the length of the bar 28 and which includessuitable means allowing the adjustment of the vertical bar 27 up ordown. Also, the bracket means 33 includes means for adjusting theposition of the vertical bar 27 in a direction parallel to thetransverse distributing chute 14. The microswitch 26 is provided withthe depending operating rod 29 to the lower end of which is secured asensor 3i) adapted to contact material 31 accumulating in thecompartment 15. The material, after building up on the conveyor belt 16in the bottom of the compartment 15, engages the sensor 30, which, inturn, causes the microswitch 26 to close and energize the motor 32,causing the distributing chute assembly 14 to move until the probe 30moves away from the pile of material 31 and is thereby released, causingthe microswitch 26 to open and deenergize motor 32. When the level ofthe material rises so as to again engage the probe 30, theabove-described process is repeated. To be presently explained, themotor 32 is cycled in a specific manner, including the provision of atimed delay, or dwell period, before the resumption of forward movementof the transverse overhead distributing chute assembly 14.

In view of the nature of the material to be handled by the system,certain of the conveying elements thereof are provided with suitablevibrators. Thus, as above-mentioned, the apparatus is intended to handlesolid material of irregular shape, such as breakfast food, or the like,and in order to maintain fluency of the material it must be vibrated.Thus, the inlet conveyor chute 13 is provided with a conventionalvibrator 34 driven by a motor 35 (see FIG. 9), motor 35 beingcontrolled, in turn, by a conventional electromagnetic contactor 36 ofthe solenoid type. The use of the inlet vibrator 34 is optional, and,therefore, the circuit of the controller 36 is provided with normallyopen manually operated switch means in dicated diagrammatically at 37 inFIG. 9.

The transversely extending chute assembly, or tracer assembly 14 islikewise provided with vibrating means, presently to be described indetail, driven by a motor 38 carried on the assembly 14 and controlledby a conventional electromagnetic controller 39. As shown in FIG. 9, thecircuit branch including the electromagnetic controller 39, which is ofthe solenoid type, contains normally closed manually operated switchmeans 40 which may be employed, at times, to deenergize the contactor39, is so desired.

The delivery chute 17 has a downwardly and outwardly inclined bottomwall 43 (see FIG. 3), which is likewise provided with vibrator meanscomprising three longitudinally spaced electromagnetic vibrators 44, 45and 46 which, respectively, have independently controlled energizingcircuits, as

shown in FIG. 9. Thus, each of the energizing circuits for thesevibrators 44, 45 and 46 includes a selector switch 47 and anintensity-regulating potentiometer 48, the three circuits being arrangedfor simultaneous closure, assuming that their selector switches 47 areclosed, by the provision of a push button manually operated gangedswitch assembly 49. The potentiometers 48 may be of the conventionalcommercial type known as Powerstats."

The contacts of the inlet vibrator electromagnetic controller 36 areshown at 50 in FIG. 9. Similarly, the contacts of the magneticcontroller 39 associated with the tracer" vibrator motor 38 are shown at51 in FIG. 9.

The bucket conveyor motor 24-is controlled by a conventionalelectromagnetic controller 52 having the contacts 53 shown in FIG. 9,the controller 52 being connected in a circuit including normally closedmanually controlled switch means 54. The main belt conveyor 16 is drivenby a motor 55 controlled by an electromagnetic controller 56 having thecontacts 57 shown in FIG. 9. The energizing circuit for theelectromagnetic controller 56 includes the manually controlled normallyclosed switch means 58, as well as the contacts of a photoelectric relaymeans 59 which responds to the presence or absence of material in theoutput delivery chute assembly 17 in a manner presently to be described.

The drive motor 32 for the transverse overhead distributing V chuteassembly 14 is of the reversible type and is reversibly; controlled byrespective forward and reverse electromagnetic controllers 60 and 61,the contacts of the "forward" controller 60 being shown at 62 in FIG,9,'and the contacts of the reverse controller 61 being shown af63 inFIG. 9.

As shown in FIG. 9, the discharge hopper vibrators 44, 45

and 46 are controlled not only by the operation of their selectingswitches 47 and common manually operated control switch 49, but also bya level-responsive switch 64 located in the receiver bin of theassociated packaging machine, or other apparatus being supplied from theassembly 11. The switch 64 v closes when the level of material in theaforesaid receiving bin rises to a predetermined height, and conversely,said switch 64 opens when the level of material in the receiver bindrops" 52, 39, and 36, said switching devices being connected betweenwire 67 and wire 65 through their associated individual control switchassemblies 54, 40, and 37, respectively. The respective vibrators 44, 45and 46 are connected between the wire 65 and the sliding contacts oftheir associated potentiometers 48 through respective rectifiers 69.

The supply wires 65 and 66 are connected to the terminals of thesecondary winding 70 of a transformer 71 whose primary winding has itsterminals connected, respectively, to two of the supply wires 72 and 73of a conventional three-phase supply source. Thus, as shown in FIG. 9,the primary winding 74 of transformer 71 is connected throughappropriate fuses 75, 75 to the line wires 72, 73, whereby single-phasepower is furnished to the secondary wires 66 and 65 for energizing thedischarge vibrators 44, 45 and 46 and for similarly energizing theelectromagnetic switching devices 52, 39, 36 and 56, as well as theforward and reverse" electromagnetic switching devices 60 and 61associated with the reversible motor 32 employed to drive thetransversely extending overhead distributing chute 14.

The main frame of the apparatus 11, shown at 76, includes a bottomlongitudinal supporting track 77 of inverted V-shape, as shown in FIG.6, and an upper longitudinal track 78 comprising a right'angled barvertically aligned with the track 77. As shown in FIG. 6, the verticallyaligned tracks 77 and 78 are located in a longitudinal vertical planesubstantially at the rear margin of the bucket conveyor 12. The,transversely extending distributing chute assembly 14 comprises anupwardly facing transversely extending pan 79 having the longitudinalwalls 80, 80, the bottom wall 81, the front transverse end wall 82, andthe rear transverse end wall 83. The bottom wall 81 is provided with thediagonally extending distributing slot 84 overlying the main beltconveyor 16, as is clearly shown in FIG. 1. The pan 79 is resilientlysupported on a carriage, designated generally at 85, said carriagebeing, in turn, movably engaged with and supported by the verticallyaligned longitudinal track members 77 and 78. Thus, the longitudinalsidewalls of the pan 79 have horizontal flanges 86, and a plurality ofupstanding leaf springs 87 are secured on and carried by the carriage85, the top ends of the leaf springs being secured to the flanges 86,thus providing resilient support for the pan 79 on carriage 85. Thecarriage 85 includes longitudinally extending hollow frame bars 88 and89 extending on opposite sides of the pan 79, the previously mentionedhorizontal bar 28 being rigidly connected tothe frame bar 89, as shownin FIG. 4. Respective supporting rollers 90 and 91 are joumaled toouterlongitudinally extending carriage frame bars-92 and 93, the rollersbeing peripherally V-grooved and being engaged on the bottom supportingtrack 77. The main longitudinally extending carriage frame bars 89 and88 are provided with top arms 94 projecting outwardly therefrom, saidtop \arms being supportingly connected to the outer frame bars92 and 93by suitable cushioning spring members 95. T

The tracer vibrator motor 38 is mounted on the end portion of the frameof carriage 85, rear-wardly subjacent the bucket conveyor 12, as shownin FIG. 6. The vibrator motor 38 is drivingly coupled to a shaft 96joumaled beneath the rear end of carriage 85 and having an eccentricelement 97 rotatably engaged in the hub portion 98 of an eccentric arm99 connected by a leaf spring 100 toa bottom channel 101 secured to thebottom surface of the main-horizontal wall 81 of pan 79. As shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the eccentric drive arm 99 and leaf spring 100 arelocated in the longitudinal vertical plane of the pan 79 so that the panis ospillated longitudinally responsive to the rotation of the eccentricelement 97 as it is driven by motor 38. The longitudinal oscillation, orvibration,

of pan 79 is permitted by the flexibility of the leaf springs 87connecting pan 79 to the remainder of carriage 85.

The top and bottom ends of the leaf springs 87 are resilientlyconnected, respectively, to the flanges 86 and main frame bars 8889 bymeans of rubber connecting blocks 102. Thus, the bottom ends of the leafsprings 87 are connected through rubber blocks 102 to angle bars 103secured transversely to the bottom walls of the hollow main carriageframe bars 8889, and the top ends of the leaf springs 87 are securedthrough similar blocks to the bottom surfaces of the longitudinal topflanges 86 of the pan sidewalls 80.

The bucket-tilting cam member 21 is secured on the top edge of avertical plate member 105 conforming in contour with the working portionof the cam member 21, said plate member 105 being, in turn, secured to abar member 106 which is pivoted at 107 to the rear end portion of thecarriage 85 by means of a pivot bracket 108 secured on the carriage, anda pivot pin rotatably mounted in said bracket. The pivot pin, shown at107, thus supports the arm 106 and the plate member 105 for rotationtransverse to the longitudinal direction of pan 79, said elements beingbiased in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG: 7, by a coiledspring 109 connecting the outer end of arm 106 to the subjacent carriageframe bar 92. Journaled to the plate member 109 substantiallyconcentrically relative to the. arcuately curved cam portion 22 is aperipherally grooved roller 110 which interengages with track 78, beingbiased into such engagement by the biasing action of spring 109.

The main frame 76 of the apparatus 11 is provided with an upwardlyfacing horizontal channel bar 111 extending parallel to the bucketconveyor 12 and located beneath the transversely extending distributorchute assembly 14, the channel bar 111 being located between thevertical plane of the rear longitudinal wall of the main storagecompartment and the longitudinal vertical plane of the front margin ofthe bucket conveyor 12. The top run of a sprocket chain 112 isslidablysupported on the channel member 111, said chain extending aroundopposite sprocket wheels 113 and 114 located adjacent the opposite endsof the main storage compartment 15, as shown in FIG. 1. The sprocketwheel 113 is joumaled to the main storage compartment 15 adjacent itsleft end, as viewed in FIG. 1, namely, adjacent the inlet chute 13. Theopposite sprocket wheel 114 is carried on the shaft of reversible motor32. As shown in FIG. 2, the motor 32 is mounted on the main frame 76adjacent and below the right end of the bucket conveyor 12. The ends ofthe sprocket chain 112 are respectively connected to depending legs 115'carried by the carriage 85, said legs being slidably and supportinglyengaged in the channel 111, as well as being connected to the sprocketchain 112.

It will thus be seen that when the motor 32 is energized, the

transversely extending chute assembly 14 is moved in a longitudinaldirection over the main storage compartment 15, the direction ofmovement being determined by the direction of energization of motor 32,which is, in'turn governed by the energization of either the forwardelectromagnetic switch device 60, or the reverse electromagnetic switchdevice 61. The energization of motor 32 is also controlled by manuallyoperated switch means and by a set of contacts 116 controlled by theswitch solenoid device 52 associated with main bucket conveyor 12. Thus,as shown in FIG. 9, the electromagnetic switch device 60 is connectedbetween a wire 117 and the wire 65 through a jumper wire 118, thecontacts 116 and the manually operated switch means 115. The contacts 62of the switch device 60 are connected in series with the respectivephase windings of motor 32 and the respective line wires, shown at 72,73 and 118.

The reversing electromagnetic switch device 61 is connected between awire 119 and the power-supply wire 65 through a limit switch 120, thecontacts 116 of the bucket conveyor, and the manually controlled switchmeans 115. As shown in FIG. 9, the limit switch 120 is normally closedand opens responsive to engagement by the carriage assembly 85 so as toprevent excessive reverse movements of the carriage. Accordingly, thelimit switch 120 is located with its operating element in the path ofmovement of the carriage 85 ata location near the rear end of thestorage compartment 15, for example, approximately twelve inches fromthe rear end wall of said storage compartment. A similar, but normallyopen, limit switch 121 is located near the forward end of the mainstorage compartment 15 in the path of movement of carriage assembly 85,arranged to be closed when the carriage assembly approaches said saidforward end of the main storage compartment 15. For example, the limitswitch 121 may be located approximately 30inches from the forward end ofthe track 77 near the forward, or discharge, end of main storagecompartment 15.

As shown in FIG. 9, the electromagnetic switch device 56 which controlsthe motor 55 of the main belt conveyor 16 is connected between wire 65and wire 67-through a conventional photoelectric relay assembly 59 andthe manually controlled switch means 58. The photoelectric relayassembly 59 is controlled by a pair of vertically spaced level-detectingphotocell assemblies 122 and 123 mounted in the discharge, or deliverychute 17. The function of the photoelectric detectors 122 and 123 andthe associated photoelectric relay assembly 59 is to stop the mainconveyor motor 55 when a product pours into the discharge chute 17 to anupper limiting height and to start it again after the product has beendischarged from the delivery chute 17 as a result of its vibration bymeans of its associated electrically driven vibrator means. Thus, therelay unit 59 is of conventional structure and is so arranged that theelectromagnetic switch device 56 will become energized when the level ofmaterial in the discharge chute 17 drops below a predeterminedbottom-limiting level and will remain energized until the level ofmaterial in the chute l7 rises above an upper limiting level, thedecrease below the lower limiting level being detected by the photocellunit 123 and the rise of the level of material above the upperpredetermined level being detected by the photocell unit 122.

As above-mentioned, the vibration of the discharge chute 17 is producedby the action of the vibrating units 44, 45 and 46.

The energizing wires for the vibrator motor 38, which is mounted on thelongitudinally reciprocating distributing chute assembly 14 arecontained in a flexible cable 124, and are car ried on aspring-actuated, self-winding reel assembly of conventionalconstruction, allowing the cable 124 to wind on, or unwind from the reel125 in accordance with the movements of the assembly 14. The cable. 124also includes a control wire 126 associated with a reversing relay 127of a singlepole, double-throw type having the contacts shown at 129 inFIG. 9. The relay 127 in its normally 'deenergized condition relayconnects a wire 130 to one of the input wires 131 leading to' aconventional timer 132. The timer 132 is of conventional constructionand essentially is a normally closed switch device whose contacts openwhen the device is deenergized and which require a predetermined periodof time to reclose after the timer is reenergized.

As shown in FIG. 9, the relay 127 has its winding connected across theline wires 72 and 1 18 through the limit switch 121, whereby the relaybecomes energized when the limit switch 121 is closed. Energization ofthe relay 127 causes the pole of its contacts to disconnect wire 131from wire 130 and to connect wire 130 to wire 133. The wire 119 isconnected through wire 133 and the relay contacts 129 (in the energizedcondition of relay 127), and through wire 130 and a manually controlledswitch 134 to the wire 66. It will thus be seen that with the controlswitch 134 closed, closure of limit switch 121 causes relay 127 tobecome energized and, therefore, deenergizes the forward electromagneticswitch device 60 by the opening of the timer switch contacts while, atthe same time,

switches on the electromagnetic control device 61 associated with thereverse" movement of the tracer" assembly 14,

causing reverse movement of said assembly 14 and releasing the limitswitch 121. The release of relay 127 caused by the opening of limitswitch 121 returns contacts 129 to their normal positions, but thedevice 60 does not become reenergized until the period of time requiredfor the contacts of timer 132 to-reclose, whereby to reestablish theconnection of the wire 117 to the wire 66.

-' The cable 124 contains not only the wires 135, 136 and 137 connectedto line wires 118, 73 and 72 through the contacts 51 of electromagneticswitch device 39, but also contains the wire 126 leading to the pole ofthe switch assembly 26 controlled by the depth probe 30. As shown inFIG. 9, the switch 26 is connected in circuit between wire 126 and wire137, whereby the closure of switch 26 acts in the same manner as theclosure of limit switch 121, in a manner presently to be described.

An alarrn" limit switchl40 is mounted with its operating element in thepath of movement of the carriage 85 at a location spaced a shortdistance forwardly of the reverse limit switch 120, as shown in FIG. 1.The alarm limit switch 140 is normally open, as shown in FIG. 9, and isconnected between power-supply wire 66 and power-supply wire 65 throughthe normally closed contacts 141 of a single-pole, double-throw relay142 and an alarm bell 143. When the relay 142 is energized the pole ofits contacts disengages from its normal position and engages with thelower contact 144, shown in FIG. 9. This occurs in response to theclosing of a manually operated pushbutton switch 145. The pushbuttonswitch 145 is mounted at a convenient location, for example, on'thecontrol panel of the device. As shown in Fig. 9, a suitable alarm lamp,such as a red lamp 146, is connected across wires 65 and 66 through thelimit switch 40, the connection including a wire 147 between lamp 146and limit switch 140. The relay 142 has its winding connected betweenwire 65 and wire 147 through the manually operated switch 145. The lowercontact 144 of relay 142 is connected to the wire 148 which connects oneterminal of the winding of relay 142 to the switch 145, said switchbeing, for example, of the single-pole, double-throw type, as shown, andbeing arranged to connect wire 148 to wire 147 when manually operated.When limit switch 140 closes responsive to the approach of carriage 85to the rear end of the main storage compartment 15, the alarm bell 143becomes energized from the power-supply wire 65 and 66. Simultaneously,the red alarm lamp 146 becomes energized. The operator may then actuatethe pushbutton switch 145 to thereby energize relay 142, which remainsenergized as long as limitswitch 140 is closed. Deenergization of relay142 deenergizes the alarm bell 143, but retains the relay 142 energizedas long as limit switch 140 is closed, even if the switch 145 returns toits normal open position as a result of being released. The relay 142will remain energized and the red alarm lamp 146 will also remainenergized until the carriagefifi moves forwardly so as to release limitswitch 140.

A suitable circuit is provided for manually controlling the movement ofthe tracer" unit 14. The manually operated switch 134 is of thetwo-position type, the lower operating position thereof being forautomatic" operationfiatfd the upper operating position thereof beingfor manuaW-operation. As shown in FIG. 9, the upper contacts of thecontrol switch 134 are connected between supply wire 66'a'nd a wire 149.A two-position reversing switch "150 is provided between wire 149 andthe respective wires l17 and 19, as shown. The upper contacts of switch150 are connecte tweertwire 149 and wire 119, whereby to control therevers lectromagnetic switch device 61 whose contacts 63, whe'c'l'o'se'd,en'rgize the tracer unit motor 32 for reverse movement. Thelower contacts of switch 150 are connected between wire 149 andwire 117,leading to the electromagnetic switch device 60 whose contacts 62, whenclosed, energize the motor 32 for forward movement of the tracer unit14. Therefore, when the pole of the main .control switch 134 is in itsupper working position, merit of the tracer unit 14 can be manuallycontrolled by operating the manual selecting switch 150. As previouslymentioned, in order to operate the motor 32, the bucket conveyor motormust also be energized, since the energization of the electromagneticswitch devices 60 and 61 is subject to control by the contacts 116,which, in turn, are controlled by the electromagnetic switch device 52associated with bucket conveyor motor 24.

In the ensuing description of operation, it will be assumed that thevarious main control switches are operated toplace the system in acondition for automatic operation. Thus, the switch 68 will be assumedto be closed, and the switch 134 will be assumed to be in its automaticposition with its pole bridging the lower contacts thereof shown in FIG.9. The main circuit breaker, shown at 152, will also be assumed to beclosed. Under'these conditions, the respective motor-controllingsolenoids 52 and 39 will be energized, and if the switch means 37 islikewise closed, the solenoid 36 will also be ener gized. The timerswitch 132 will be in its normal closed position, whereby theelectromagnet switch device 60 will be likewise energized, producingforward movement of the tracer assembly 14. It will be further assumedthat the manually operated switch 49 is closed, as well as one or moreof the vibrator-selecting switches 47.

Material is'supplied from the inlet chute 13 to the bucket conveyorassembly 12, and the material is then delivered to the transverselyextending tracer or distributing chute assembly 14 by the camming actionof the member 21 on the bucket, as above-described. The assembly 14 willtravel forwardly toward the discharge end of the main compartment- 15.until it operates the limit switch 121, at which time the relay 127becomes energized, causing the contacts 129 of the relay to reversetheir positions, namely, causing the pole of the contacts to disengagefrom its lower contact and to engage its upper contact, thusdisconnecting wire 131-from wire 130 and connecting wire 130 to wire133. This energizes the reverse electromagnetic motor controller 61,thereby reversing the motor 32. The reverse movement of the carriagereleases the limit switch 121, causing the tracer" assembly 14 to stop.The relay 127 is likewise deenergized and its contacts resumetheirnormal positions wherein timer 132 again becomes energized.However, due to the delay period provided by the timer, an interval oftime occurs before the forward" electromagnetic switch device 60 becomesreenergized, causing the tracer" assembly 14 to again move forward andrepeat the previous cycle. However, this repetition depends upon thecondition of the relay 127. If the level of the material in the maincompartment-15 is relatively high, the switch 26 will retain the relay127 energized and the tracer assembly 14 will continue to movereversely, namely, toward the rear end of the main storage compartment15 until it operates the limit switch 120, whereby to 'deenergize theelectromagnetic motor-control device 61 and stop the rearward movementof the tracer" assembly 14. As the level of the material beneath theprobe 30 reduces, eventually it lowers sufficiently to bridging itsupper contacts, the direction of move-j restore the switch 26 to itsnormal open position, allowing the relay 127 to become deenergized andallowing the contacts 129 of said relay to return to their normalpositions shown in FIG. 9, wherein the timer 132 is reenergized. Afterthe dwell period of the timer 132 has elapsed, the forward motor-controldevice 61 becomes reenergized and causes the assembly 14 to moveforwardly.

It will be noted that a reciprocatory cycle of movement of the assembly14 will occur by the action of the probe device in a manner similar tothat which occurs when the front limit switch 121 is actuated. Thus, theoperation of the apparatus is such as to cause the "tracer" assembly 14to pause at locations where the level of the material is low so as tobuild up the level of material, as required As shown in FIG. 9,respective signal lamps 153 and 154 are connected between supply wireand wire 117 and supply wire 65 and wire 119 (through limit switch Inother words, when the forwad electromagnetic controller 60 is energized,the signal lamp 153, which may be a green lamp, 2

will be likewise energized. Similarly, the signal lamp 154 will beenergized concurrently with the energization of the reverse controller61. i

The forward end of the main storage compartment 15 is suitablyconstructed to allow the discharge of material from the forward end ofthe conveyor belt assembly 16 into the transversely extending dischargechute assembly 17. Thus, as shown in FIG. 8, a discharge space isprovided between the bottom edge of the front wall of the main storagecompartment 15 and the delivery end of the belt conveyor to allow thematerial to flow therebetween into the delivery chute 17. The forwardend wall of the compartment 15 preferably slopes downwardly andforwardly, as shown at l56, and the forward portion of the compartmentadjacent front wall 156 is provided preferably with forwardly convergentside bafiles 157, 157 to facilitate the guiding of the materialdischarged through the space 155 into the transverse discharge chute 17.

From the above description it will be apparent that during the operationof the device 11 the continuous-discharge loop-. type bucket conveyor 12delivers material into the transversely extending chute assembly 14 bythe tilting action of the buckets 18, as above-described the materialdischarging by gravity from the tilted buckets into the subjacenttransversely extending pan 79. The pan 79 is vibrated by the motor 38,and the material in the pan discharges through the diagonal slot 84 intothe main storage compartment 15. Free flow of the material isfacilitated by the vibration of pan 79 produced by motor 38 by theaction of the eccentrically driven arm 100, as above-described. Thematerial, after building up on the conveyor belt 16, operates the probeswitch 26 in the manner above-described.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the conditions illustratedin FIG. 9 represent the probe 30 in engagement with the top surface of apile of the product below the upper level limit in main storagecompartment 15. Under these conditions the probe switch 26 is opened,and the relay 127 is deenergized, whereby its contacts 129 areconditioned to energize timer 132 and thereby energize forward motorcontroller 60. With this arrangement, the tracer assembly 14 would moveforwardly over compartment 15 to eventually actuate front limit switch21, and would then move rearwardly until probe switch 26 reclosesresponsive to the location of a level of material at or above the upperlimit- Energization of relay 127 causes reversal of movement of assembly14. Deenergization of relay 127 causes resumption of forward movement ofassembly 14 after a dwell period.

It will thus be seen that after the product builds up on the mainconveyor belt 16 to close switch 26, this energizes relay 127, causingreversal of movement of assembly 14 until the probe 30 moves away fromthe pile of product and switch 26 reopens, causing resumption of forwardmovement of assembly 14 after a dwell period.

As above-explained, the operation of the main conveyor belt 16 iscontrolled by the photoelectric sensing units 122 and 123 so as to stopthe movement of the main conveyor belt when the material discharged intothe delivery chute. 17, exceeds an upper predetermined limit and toresume movement of the main conveyor belt when the material in the chute17 drops below a predetermined low limit. t

The timer 132 acts to provide a dwell period sufficient to add asubstantial amount of material to a low area in the main storagecompartment 15 before the traveling spreader assembly 14 resumes itsforward travel. Wherever the probe 30 senses material at or above theupper level limit, it energizes relay 127 to cause a reversal ofmovement of the traveling spreader assembly 14. When the probe 30detects a low region, it causes switch 26 to open and stop the movementof the assembly 14 for a period of time (the dwell" period of timer132), after which forward movement of assembly 14 is resumed. The actionof the probe 30 and the parts cooperating therewith is of great valueespecially when material is being passed through thesystem at arelatively rapid rate wherein occasionally the rate of discharge exceedsthe rate of input. The parts thus cooperate to minimize the possibilityof the main conveyor belt 16 being left with open spaces thereon.

As above-mentioned the various chute members of the system arepreferably resiliently mounted and are provided with vibrating means.Thus, the input chute assembly 13 includes the vibrating means 34 andthe transversely extending distributing chute assembly 14 includes thevibrating means comprising the drive motor 38 and associated elementsfor generating vibratory impulses and delivering same to the connectionarm 100 which is fastened to the resiliently mounted pan member 79. Theoutput chute assembly also is resiliently mounted, the chute 17 beingresiliently supported on resilient bars secured to and rising from thestationary bottom frame 161, the upstanding bars 160 being locatedadjacent the respective opposite ends of the outlet chute 17, as shownin FIG. 3. The top ends of the bars 160 are preferably pivotallyconnected to the sidewall of chute 17 at 162, 162. The inclinedoutletchute 17 is preferably formed of suitable relatively flexiblematerial, such as sheet metal, or the like, and may be connected at itsinside wall to the framework of the main' assembly, as shown in FIG. 8,whereas the outside wall of the outlet delivery chute 17 may beresiliently supported on the upstanding flexible arms 160, 160 in themanner abovedescribed, the inherent flexibility of the chute allowingthe chute to vibrate readily when driven by thespaced electric vibrators44, 45 and 46, or any desired combination of these electrical vibrators.Thus, the material in the delivery chute 17 slides downwardly by gravityand leaves the chute at its downwardly directed outlet, shown at 164 inFIG. 3.

While a specific embodiment of an improved material-conveying assemblyhas been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understoodthat various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occurto those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that nolimitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope ofthe appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A material-conveying assembly comprising an elongated mainreceptacle, an endless belt conveyor forming the bottom of said mainreceptacle, said main receptacle having a discharge opening at theforward end of said belt conveyor, a delivery chute located to receivematerial from said forward end of the belt conveyor and arranged toconvey said material away from said main receptacle, a bucket conveyorhaving pivoted buckets and being mounted substantially parallel to andabove said main receptacle, transversely arranged distributing chutemeans underlying said bucket conveyor and overlying said mainreceptacle, said distributing chute means being apertured to allowmaterial received thereby to drop into said main receptacle, means tomove said distributing chute means lengthwise of said main receptacle,cooperating cam means on the distributing chute means and the buckets ofthe bucket conveyor to rotate each bucket to discharge material from thebucket conveyor onto the distributing chute means responsive to theforward movement of the bucket conveyor over said chute means,material-sensing probe means on the distributing chute means to detectmaterial at a predetermined level in said main receptacle, and means totemporarily stop movement of said distributing chute means responsive tothe detection of material at a level below said predetermined level ofsaid probe means.

2. The material-conveying assembly of claim 1, and means to reverse thedirection of movement of the distributing chute means responsive to theapproach of said distributing chute means to the forward end of the mainreceptacle.

3. The material-conveying assembly of claim 2, and wherein thedistributing chute means is provided with reversible electrical drivemeans drivingly connected thereto to move it forwardly and rearwardly,means to reversibly energize said drive means, and means to introduce atime delay in the forward energization of said drive means.

4. The material-conveying assembly of claim 3, and materiallevel-sensing means in said delivery chute controlling the operation ofsaid belt conveyor.

5. The material-conveying assembly of claim 4, and wherein saidmaterial-sensing means comprises respective photosensitive devicesmounted at upper and lower level limits in said delivery chute.

6. The material-conveying assembly of claim 4, and wherein said probemeans comprises a depending material-contacting element carried by saiddistributing chute means and controlswitch means operatively coupled tosaid material-contacting element.

7. A material-conveying assembly comprising an elongated mainreceptacle, a first conveyor forming the bottom of said main receptacle,said main receptacle having a discharge opening at one end of the firstconveyor, a delivery chute located to receive material from said one endof the first conveyor and arranged to convey said material away fromsaid main receptacle, a second conveyor mounted substantially parallelto and above said main receptacle, transversely arranged distributingchute means underlying said second conveyor and overlying said mainreceptacle, said distributing chute means being apertured to allowmaterial received thereby to drop into said main receptacle, means tomove said distributing chute means lengthwise of said main receptacle,cooperating means on the distributing chute means and the secondconveyor to discharge material from the second con veyor onto thedistributing chute means responsive to the movement of the distributingchute means beneath the second conveyor, material-sensing probe means onthe distributing chute means to detect material at a predetermined levelin said main receptacle, means to reverse the direction of movement ofthe distributing chute means responsive to the approach of saiddistributing chute means to the forward end of the main receptacle,wherein the distributing chute means is provided with reversibleelectrical drive means drivingly connected thereto to move it forwardlyand rearwardly, materiallevel sensing means in said delivery chutecontrolling the operation of said first conveyor, said probe meanscomprising a depending material-contacting element carried by saiddistributing chute means and control-switch means operatively coupled tosaid material-contacting element, relay means, an energizing circuitincluding said control-switch means connected to said relay means, meansto energize said reversible distributing chute-drive means in onedirection when said relay means is deenergized, and means to energizesaid reversible distributing chute-drive means in the opposite directionresponsive to the energization of said relay means.

8. The material-conveying assembly of claim 7, and wherein thedistributing chute means is energized in a forward direction when saidrelay means is deenergized.

9. The material-conveying assembly of claim 8, and wherein the means toreverse the forward movement of the distributing chute means when itapproaches the forward end of the main receptacle comprises means toenergize said relay means responsive to the approach of saiddistributing chute means to said forward end.

10. The material-conveying assembly of claim 9, and

wherein the reversible drive means of the distributing chute meanscomprises respectively a forward energizing circuit connected to saiddrive means and a reverse energizing circuit connected to said drivemeans, and means to introduce a time delay in the forward energizationof said drive means comprising slow-closing switch means in said forwardenergizing circuit.

11. The material-conveying assembly of claim 10, and wherein the forwardenergizing circuit and the reverse energizing circuit have a commonbranch including an interlock switch, said second conveyor beingprovided with a drive motor, and means to simultaneously energize saiddrive motor and close said interlock switch, whereby said forwardenergizing circuit and reverse energizing circuit cannot be energizedunless said last-named drive motor is energized.

12. The material-conveying assembly of claim 9, and wherein said relaymeans is provided with an energizing circuit including a limit switch inthe path of movement of said distn'buting chute means, said limit switchbeing located adjacent said forward end of the main receptacle.

13. The material-conveying assembly of claim 7, and wherein saiddistributing chute means comprises a carriage and an apertured panmember resiliently mounted on said carriage, said carriage beingprovided with rollers, and stationary track means beneath and parallelto said second conveyor, said rollers supportingly engaging said trackmeans to guide the carriage longitudinally of the main receptacle.

14. The material-conveying assembly of claim 13, and vibrator meansmounted on said carriage and operatively connected to said pan member.

15. The material-conveying assembly of claim 14, and wherein saidvibrator means comprises a drive motor mounted on said carriage, aneccentric member driven by said motor, and a crank arm drivinglycoupling said eccentric member to said pan member.

16. The material-conveying assembly of claim 14, and electricallyoperated vibrator means connected to said delivery chute.

17. The material-conveying assembly of claim 16, and wherein saidlast-named vibrator means comprises a plurality of spaced electricalvibrators mounted on the bottom wall of said deliver chute, and means toselectively energize said spaced electrical vibrators.

18. The material-conveying assembly of claim 17, and wherein eachelectrical vibrator has an energizing circuit including an inputvoltage-control device, whereby the intensity of operation of saidvibrators can be individually controlled.

